Knoxville's Forgotten Champion: The Story of Big John Tate
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2024
- Knoxville is a city built on sports from the Vols to Olympians to Hall-of-Famers. One world champion, however, has been lost to time. His name is Big John Tate, and he was Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World. This documentary is his story.
More on Big John Tate, here: bit.ly/3rYVYwe
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00:00 Intro
01:13 Big John's Beginnings
03:29 Tate starts his amateur boxing career
04:17 Tate meets Ace Miller
04:52 Big John moves to Knoxville
05:52 The Hillbillies
07:20 Big John in the 1976 Montreal Olympics
09:06 John Tate vs. Teofilo Stevenson
10:19 Olympic bronze medal
10:37 Big John's Rise
11:24 Big John's professional debut
12:49 John Tate vs. Duane Bobick
14:10 Muhammad Ali's heir apparent
14:43 John Tate vs. Kallie Knoetze
17:59 Tate TKOs Knoetze
19:12 A hero's welcome in Knoxville
21:10 Road to the World Heavyweight Championship
22:09 A bout in apartheid-divided South Africa
23:42 Desegregating Loftus Versfeld Stadium
24:02 John Tate vs. Gerrie Coetzee
25:22 The new Heavyweight Champion of the World
26:42 Title defense talks
27:45 The Battle of Ole Smokey
30:47 John Tate vs. Mike Weaver
32:45 Weaver KOs Tate
33:48 Big John's Battles
34:02 John Tate vs. Trevor Berbick
34:58 Berbick KOs Tate
35:50 Tate takes a sabbatical
37:00 Tate marries Claudia Bradley
38:23 Tate on the comeback trail
39:14 Strained shoulders stifle Tate's comeback
40:15 Tate's money troubles
42:34 John Tate vs. Noel Quarless
44:05 Tate's career ends
44:12 Big John's Fall
44:22 Tate's cocaine habit
46:02 Tate and Claudia divorce
47:17 Tate goes to jail
48:50 Tate on the streets
49:47 Kerry Pharr gives Tate a second chance
51:30 Big John gets back in the ring
51:55 Old demons
53:13 Tate dies at 43
54:33 Remembering Big John
56:38 Big John Tate's legacy
58:56 He did well - กีฬา
He used to come see me at a restaurant I was working at the Old City and I always gave him money and food not even knowing who he was..very nice man..🙏🙏🙏
I had the pleasure of meeting Big John in 1986 in Greenville, MS at a pro fight card. He was a massive man, larger than life. I talked with him for probably 30 minutes about my own boxing career. Such a wonderful memory. I sat and had a conversation with the Heavy Weight Champion of the World. One of the highlights of my life.
Awesome hope you had a great career
How did you career pan out Freddy? I remember the tragic end of the lives of many boxers: Joe Louis for one, Willie Clason being killed, Mancini Killing a fighter, Mohammed Ali's degeneration into Parkinson's of course, Jerry Quarry living with his brother basically as an invalid, and that horrible man Don King exploiting fighters such as Tim Witherspoon and even embezzling money off of Ali and how he used Mike Tyson.
P
WOW , you lucky but good for you 👍👍
I lived and trained in two different gyms with Big John a great fighter and even a greater person! R.I.P Champion Big John Tate! Love you brother!
I was only 14 and I was bewildered that they put him back in the ring especially with a big physical Heavyweight like Berbick so soon after the devastating KO Loss to Mike Weaver. I mean He should have been off at least 6 months. He was still going to be in the picture, no need to rush him back in. To this day I shake my head at that.
me too
I was living Canada at the time of Berbick fight and the Canadian press (Beribick's adopted country) thought this fight would be a mismatch. In reality John need more than 6 months to recover from the Weaver fight.
The fight between Tate and Weaver was one of the strangest I've seen. Tate was well ahead on points, then Weaver in the last minute just suddenly threw a punch and knocked him to oblivion. Boxing can be a funny game sometimes.
Makes sense to me to get all the cobwebs out
Amazing the resemblance between Tate and Riddick Bowe
LOOKS LIKE HIM TOO
I remember meeting our city boxing legend as a young kid long live big John tate🙏🙏
Thanks for your kindness for remembering a great man!
This fight pepped Black South Africans up. It was a sad time in the history of the country, when apartheid was at its peak. So Big John Tate knocking a white South African down, was a big deal for Blacks. He made us very proud indeed.
Sadly, we are regressing these days here in the U.S when it comes to Civil Rights. Sad really. John Tate, by all who knew him, was a down to earth good person and quite underrated as a fighter. Stevenson without a doubt, would have been a heavyweight champion were he able to get out of Cuba and turn professional...he was a super fighter. RIP John Tate! You are not forgotten good sir!
He was a good man ,and good
fighter too .
It's so heart warming to see everyone come together
Thanks for this video.
I've followed boxing since Ali became champion but I've never heard of Big John Tate.
I am always in awe of those who started with nothing to become icons in life. But it was rather sad the way his world and life crumbled.
Thanks again for recognising his contribution to boxing.
From Fiji 🇫🇯 RIP Big John Tate.
What a great document I’d never heard of him before it’s a shame fighers like big John get forgotten , he was larger than life RIP big man.
My biggest memory of John Tate was a fight in or around 1980? Big John dominated the entire fight but didn't close it out. I can't remember the other fighter who knocked him on his face in either the last or next to last round. I was in Little Rock Arkansas visiting my dad, and his roommate at the time was livid! He kept yelling "Dam"! "He had the fight won, all he had to do was stay away from him"!!! Those very words still resonate with me to this day. It taught me a lesson at 12 years old; leave well enough alone, all that matters is "Tha Win"! Hand clap anyway for Big John Tate for making an iconic life for himself out of nothing other than sheer determination 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@@BubbubTopps, the fighter that put John on his face was Mike Weaver.
@@BubbubToppsMike weaver .
This is a very interesting documentary about a man that went all the way to the top of his profession. Rest in peace Big John Tate you are not forgotten
I remember boxing with his gloves with his cousin we were kids over on Ashland avenue in Knoxville Tennessee! Just thought about him rest in peace my brother! Buster
Tate and Weaver were very good fighters who gave us some teriffuc fights post Ali.
randomly saw this documentary, clicked on it as a time filler until I found something else on TH-cam, as I was looking for something, what, I don't know. but ended up watching this documentary all the way through. I'm a boxing fan & especially love boxing documentaries, and this was a great documentary. The story of Big John Tate was interesting, sad in the end, especially for an athlete who dedicates their time & all their sacrifices for our entertainment.
I really like this! Always had a sort of fascination with Big John Tate. Judging by the videos about him that still are made, his short time at the top is still not forgotten.
Great Documentary! Love Big John
I didn't know Big John personally, but I know his folks. Great, athletic family. Played basketball with them, went to college with them and just enjoyed being around them. Big John was from Marion/West Memphis. We were from Hughes, AR.
*My dad, grandparents and other relatives are all buried in the same cemetery as Big John Tate.
John Tate was a legend. I was lucky to be there for his last match.
Who won in your books?
This fine man used to come tell us to learn to read at Northwest elementary in Newport Tennessee very humble person,RIP champ✌️
Great video,thanks for letting people know of Big John
I can remember watching the Weaver fight, I was 10 in the fifth grade. Someone should make a movie about his life.
My father who fought as an amateur for Ace always told me about Big John. I never knew how historic his run in the boxing game was. It’s great to see people cared about keeping his history alive. I love training at Golden gloves with Judge and “Old School” because they are very knowledgeable. No wonder they made it to the heights they did. In a way, it gives me a new sense of purpose to train there now.
My son also fought for Ace great coach
Boxing is littered with tragic tales Sonny Liston, Tommy Morrison, "Irish" Billy Collins, Oscar Bonavena, Zora Folley, "Sweet" Jim Robinson and Duk Koo Kim just to name a few.
Benny "Kid" Paret.
Benitez, 2 Davey Moore's, Paul Williams, Bobby Chacon. Primo Carnera, Liston, Salvador Sanchez the list is endless!!! Johnny Tapia.
beautiful tribute... thanks to everyone who played a part in its making...
I'm so thankful for the documentary . You need to know that Big John Tate was our hero here when knocked down both Kallie Knooletse and Gerrie Kotzee, we loved him big time and I always asked myself regarding his whereabouts . He's still my guy and may His wonderful soul rest easy .thanks for everything and making us South Africans proud of you
I remember Big John Tate.
I love in Coventry England.
I remember the Weaver and Coetzee fights as though it was yesterday.
I still can't believe that they put him in with Berbick 81 days later after suffering a bad Knock out from Weaver.
Very poor management. That would never happen today.
R.I.P Champ not forgotten.
I remember that,I saw both fights on TV when boxing was on the regular channels.
I used to live next door to Mr Tate on Asheville Hwy in Knoxville tn . I also had to see his wreck on Asheville hwy that sadly took his life
Excellent Documentary on the late John Tate, thank you for sharing! Leo Randolph also won a Gold Medal in the Flyweight Division from the great 1976 Olympic boxing team, Michael & Leon Spinks, Sugar Ray Leonard, Howard Davis Jr and Leo.
This is the kind of boxer that by looking at his face thru his fighting techniques , you see the seriousness and determination in his eyes ... I really loved and admired him .... R.I.P. John Tate , your face will always be pinned to my heart 🌟🙏
I remember well big John being at parade for him returned as champion! I was a young man just 21 years old in on leave in the army lucky to be home for visiting family and see our Knoxville champion! Big John tate , heavy weight champion of the world says it all! Love and honor rip John tate
I never knew this man but I'm proud of him.top man respect tate
I'd say the best documentary about John out there.
Amazing! A true champ that went through so much in tough times.
Rip champ
Upon hearing what Howard Cosell said about John Tate being illiterate on National Television he should have been ashamed of himself I knew I didn't like Howard Cosell before this but this just really really reaffirms my opinion of the man not much
Happy Thanksgivings...I always love Big John T. .I cry on 04/04/1953...my sister birthday. He is one of the best. Think about read, writing and etc. Big John...they have sign his paycheck for him. He is one of my Idol. My sister 04/08/1953. Big John Tate died on my sister birthday..
San Francisco, CA
P.S. I am a true Washington
I am UNITE H.E.R.E. Local 2
Neuman Boxing Gym
P.S.: BIG JOHN...I love that song
Happy Holidays everybody...
Teofilo Stevenson was born in 1952 so in 1976 he was not 40 yeas old, he was only 24 years old to Big John Tate's 21 years, but he came from Cuba and the Russian's were in Cuba introducing sports to the Cubans and that is why for a long time in the heavyweights division Cuba dominated the Olympics.
Hemingway used to have a standing offer on Cuban beaches of 200 dollars to the biggest strongest men in Cuba, for just being able to knock Hemingway down. I hear there are statures of Hemingway on beaches around Cuba. Many people give Hemingway credit for getting Cubans to get into boxing and for years of dominance in Olympics
He also stated Stevenson had won the Olympics 5 times
Rest In Peace John Tate....... You are at Peace now. 😢
What a great piece. Ever since I was a kid. I felt the pecking order in the United States went: The President, then The Heavyweight Champion of the World, then Vice President and so on.
These Boxing Associations should be forced to have a good, solid retirement plan and even better Medical insurance imposed on them. With all the money they make. They should be ashamed of themselves for allowing a great man like this to flounder on his own with nothing to show for it. After putting this man through the brutality of this sport and profiting off him. Then to turn your back on him after he's had his time. To me, is unforgivable. Look what the USA does for it's Presidents in retirement. The Heavyweight Champion of the World deserves better! This makes me mad as hell! Thank you for allowing me to see the truth. I will never forget this man...
R.I.P. champ....may you always be remembered
Thank you!! for this wonderful story 😢😢😢
Watching this adequate me realize and remember how good both John Tate and Gerrie Coetzee were as boxers
He(cowardly)-knocked out Gerrie . 🤮
I think Cerrie Coetzee beat Weaver soon after Tate won against Coetzee. Whats weird is that Tate was not given a rematch with Weaver straight away. Since Tate was the champion before the Weaver loss it should have been an automatic given to get a rematch. A strange one . A champion when he losses usually gets a rematch 9 times out of ten . .
@@manueldumont3709 That's not true.
@@robertmanfredthurrigl9424 He would have lost in a rematch anyway. One of the saddest things I ever saw in boxing was Tate turning his back on Berbick and running away. I remember the Coetzee fight was in the rain and the ring was wet and they were both slipping like they were on ice
What they don't mention in the segment on the Weaver fight was that Weaver was told by his corner not to come back to it if he didn't go out there and knock Tate out.
I remember watching Teofilo Stevenson's Olympic matches! Being from Cuba, he didn't have an opportunity to turn pro, but he sure was impressive. He would throw repeated left jabs and follow with an overhand right, which usually did the job. Stevenson won 3 consecutive Olympic gold medals(1972, 1976, 1980), but didn't have an opportunity for his 4th, in 1984, because of Russia's boycott.
Glad I watched this video about Big John Tate I remember him well now with all my former teammates friends and family transitioning to another phase in there journey I almost cried thinking of John's life heart and genuine love of friendship and willingness to be a champion of people and a victor of life sometimes time runs out on you just can't take your time on this earth for granted RIP Big John The Champ never to be forgotten thank you Ace and family for being a family to John as well a host of others RIH this video touched my soul
Yeah I've seen some nice people in my life that were kind and gentle like big john Tate, hat's off to the champ
Oh wow. I waited on Judge Hill and Robert booker at a restaurant for years. He’s a really nice guy. We would talk about boxing from time to time. He’s a real nice guy
Great video Great workout Great channel Great content Great athlete Great motivation and inspiration keep doing what your doing and I Will always support you and your channel
Great doco, what an intriguing story
I fought my first amateur boxing fight here at this gym. I was introduced to Ace on this night.
May Big John rest in peace one of my favorite fighters...I believe he was rush to fast one tuff fight after another...Especially after the Weaver fight..
Great documentary!!!
Good stuff
That KO loss to Stevenson in the 76 Olympics had me stunned as Tate staggered away like a drunk looking to catch a bus. Tate fell like dead weight when he lost to Weaver and his loss to Berbick was similar as he totally collapsed like a lifeless hulk. Those losses were minor compared to the damage he did to himself with drugs and mismanagement of his fund$. If he had a stable state of mind he could've parlayed his local fame into many different enterprises and ultimately made more money after his boxing career ended. The love he had from his people and his gregarious personality would've served him well. It's too bad that drugs were a demon that helped to bring him down like so many others. Guys like Sugar Ray Leonard had drug problems also but were fortunate enough to get out of that hole and save themselves. RIP Big John!
Respect R.I.P 🏆 Champ.
Like Tate always said, breath air!!!
Glad I saw this.
It's sad I've never heard of Mr tate but glad I came up on it n from me watching he was a great fighter n person may God bless your soul CHAMP rest easy
I remember Big John living in Sunset Rill Apartments in the early 80s he was so nice.
John Tate Mike Weaver Trevor Berbick they were not all time greats but they were
Big strong muscled heavyweights with stamina to go 15 rounds that knew how to fight.
Definitely not your grandfathers heavies.
Rip Tate
loved it!!
everyone of us is here for a reason and it's all one picture these now are special times big or small but fighters you have to be he was a great fighter and a nice person
RIP BIG JOHN TATE, 🙏
thank you
The best
I went back and watched his career via his fights.There were no gaps like he was locked up.He averaged 3 fights per year.Lost only three.The truck he died in, was new.Nothing from his childhood friend's or family.His wife said nothing.
A great story for a great man what a smile huh
fantastic.
What a sad ending for a great boxer and champion.R.iP Big John Tate..
His grandparents looked like really hard workers.
Big John Tate was so exciting hear and watch esp; when he fought Larry Holmes God bless and keep it comin'
To my knowledge Big John never fought Holmes professionally.
My son who is ten asked if the boxer I was telling him about died a hero like in the song .
I told him yes and for sure he might find out the truth one day but he's ten and I think John would be pleased my little lad knows how great he was.
Wise and nice words to your son
RIP BIG JOHN TATE AND BIGER THEN LIFE
Big John lived his dream and his Hillbilly Band stuck by him. He was Born, He Lived, Loved and was Heavyweight Champion of The World. Yeah he made mistakes but he got his Chance in life and at the end of the day, That's Enough. RIP Big John.
Absolutely! Chris Bolin We All wish we could be so fortunate! Just to be in the room of our life's Dream! John was in the same ring,of his vision quest! So encouraging and inspirational to All!
25:45 what happened to that beautiful belt? I read that it was made of gold
God bless Big John
Although he was at a position to be forgotten they are just as many hard working fighters who could not get near the top because they came across a champion or legend too soon , no one knows their names.
Bravo Upload..
In And Round Knoxville and Elsewhere..
His Name and Others, Gyms and Community - Centres Should Named After..
Blessing A Generation - Also Cautionary Tale..
In Swahili..
Pumzika Kwa Amani..
( Relax in Peace )..
Big John.
Good people handled him god bless them also
I remember John Tate he had pretty good boxing skills just no chin.
He had 37 fights lost 3.His boxing career lasted 11 yr's.
I never forget the night he had Mike Weaver beat all 14 rounds. All he had to do was stay away from Weaver in the 15th round. He would have been champion. He got caught with that viscous hook and fell like a tree. He was never the same after that.
It was a shame how he ended up.
Long Islands Gold Medalist @7:54 next to Sugar Ray that is Howard Davis Jr and @7:59 Howard Davis Jr on the end, upper left.. R.I.P
I believe big John took a dive on the championship fight, from the way it looks
Shame we never got to see him in his prime vs Holmes in his prime. Felt his size & reach would have been the best challenge to Holmes at that time but the Weaver fight ruined him & that matchup
True. But, in all honesty, Ace shouldn't have matched him up so quick to fight Berbick after the Weaver disaster.
South Africa wasn't "torn apart" by apartheid. It was one of the most prosperous and innovative countries on earth.
Teofilo Stevenson was 24, not 40!! In 1976 he was probably at his peak. Stevenson had destroyed Duane Bobick in Munich, now he'd done the same to Big John Tate. The buzz around Stevenson was unheard of for an amateur, he was a genuine boxing superstar. Only Mark Breland in 1984 would have a similar profile. If Tate had been looked after by someone like Eddie Futch or Emanuel Steward he'd have been virtually unbeatable.
Stevenson was lucky that Igor Vysotsky wasn't in Montreal, then Angel Milian may have won the gold.
Of course I'm 66 years old so I remember watching many Olympics with Telefeo Stevenson. Fidel Castro was always in the audience when Stevenson fought. I never saw him lose and I never saw one of his fights go the distance. It was always just a matter of time before his right hand would find it's mark. I always wondered what would happen if he could have fought Ali.
Great, but overrated. The amateurs are different than the pros.
Rip
Big John Tate what a great champion but drugs can hurt a people.
He had a lot of "good people" around him, that wanted the best for him, he just made some bad choices, hope he's resting in peace now!
They put him in the ring to quickly after a brutal fight, You don't know the truth. They got rid of him. Sports people know what I'm talking about.
Drug addiction is a hell of a burden.
What Dude say?, "Stevenson was a Grown Man fighting them kids 😠."
22:25 typical jesse jackson playbook cause a controversy until he got paid under the table. just like he did with budweiser
shakedown lol.
Trump Lost hahahahaha
Tate had a quiet kinda 'down home' charisma that clicked with people, and that you don't see anymore. He was the opposite of Larry Holmes, who justifiably had a chip on his shoulder.
The narrator sounds like he’s introducing a fight the whole time.
watched that fight with weaver in my dorm room that night. total shocker. tate kicked his butt all night long, then...
He landed the punch that beat Gerrie, after the bell.